CZS promises a new approach to tackling energy efficiency programmes within organisations

I was interested to see that the former Head of Sustainability at the Royal Mail, Dr Martin Blake, has set up a new organisation, Carbon Zero Solutions (CZS) to support organisation executives in the deployment of energy efficiency programmes that improve profitability and reduce environmental and social impact.

While at the Royal Mail, Dr Blake was the architect of the Carbon Management Programme at Royal Mail and oversaw a multi-pronged strategy in the areas of energy reduction and efficiency, waste management, water conservation and workplace diversity. The Royal Mail's team of energy experts is credited with reducing UK Royal Mail Group's annual energy bill by over £30million.

According to Dr Blake, "There are many examples of boards that have not pursued the benefits of energy reduction because they are being sold on outputs that cannot be adequately quantified or explained. Too many initiatives have been conceived and implemented in a piecemeal fashion. Individually they may have been effective, but unless taken together within a wider coordinated programme, it is unlikely they will each deliver quantifiable ROI. It is therefore not surprising that some board directors feel ambivalent or wary."

I wonder whether this will set a trend, with successful heads of sustainability leaving their organisations to set up a company, providing energy efficiency services to others. It will be interesting to see how this approach develops.

The CZS website says this about carbon reduction plans within organisations.

"Too often carbon reduction is hived off into a specialist function from where only incremental savings in energy costs can be made. At CZS we believe businesses could be more ambitious. We understand the importance of getting key stakeholders onboard and engaging the wider workforce. We are familiar with the many reasons to resist change and understand why some organisations remain fixed on 'business as usual' strategies. However, only when there is top down leadership, able to harness the intellectual capacity of an organisation, can the full potential of a business be realised."